Salvia plant named &#39;Barsal&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘BARSAL’ is disclosed, characterized by an attractive upright plant habit, easily producing lateral branches. ‘BARSAL’ produces violet flowers continuously from May to November. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Salvia hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BARSAL’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor, Michel Barrault, a citizen of France. The new variety was discovered as an individual seedling during 2010 t a commercial nursery in Maine de Loire, France. The parent varieties are unknown, however the inventor's best information leads him to believe the seed parent is the commercial, unpatented variety Salvia gregii ‘Lycoides’. The pollen parent is unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at the same commercial greenhouse in La Possoniere, France in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BARSAL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BARSAL’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BARSAL’ as a new and distinct Salvia cultivar:

1. Violet colored flowers.

2. Well shaped, upright plant habit.

3. Continuous flowering from May to November.

4. Easy branching

5. Larger flower size.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISONS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ can be compared to the unpatented variety Salvia gregii ‘Lycoides’. Plants of ‘BARSAL’ are similar to plants of, Salvia gregii ‘Lycoides’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ are overall taller, and produce lateral branches more easily. ‘BARSAL’ also produces flowers that are more true violet, less violet-blue colored than Salvia greggii ‘Lycoides’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ can also be compared to the unpatented variety Salvia gregii ‘Diane’. Plants of ‘BARSAL’ are similar to plants of, Salvia ‘Diane’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ are taller and more vigorous, and flower all Summer. ‘BARSAL’ also produces darker purple flowers than ‘Diane’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ can also be compared to the unpatented variety Salvia hybrid ‘Nuit d′Armor’. Plants of ‘BARSAL’ are similar to plants of, Salvia hybrid ‘Nuit d′Armor’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BARSAL’ are taller, more upright, and less spreading than plants of ‘Nuit d′Armor. Additionally, flower color of ‘BARSAL’ is violet, compared to the blue flowers of ‘Nuit d′Armor’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a flowering plant of ‘BARSAL’. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowering spike of ‘BARSAL’ grown outdoors, in a garden. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BARSAL’ plants grown outdoors at a commercial nursery in Possonniere, France. The growing temperature ranged from 8° C. to 28° C., day and night. The nursery area is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrid ‘BARSAL’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at approximately 20°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 20 to 25 days at 20°             C. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant height.—Approximately 60 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 80 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 30 to 35             cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.20 to 0.30 cm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 50 to 60.         -   Stem.—Color: young: Near RHS Green-Yellow 145A and oldest:             Near RHS Greyed-Orange 165A Texture/Pubescence: Non             pubescent, very slightly scaly.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 3.0 to 4.5 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 30 weeks in a 2 liter             container. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: opposite Quantity: Approximately 12 to 16             per main branch. Average Length: Approximately 3.0 to             5.8 cm. Average Width: Approximately 1.0 to 1.5 cm. Shape of             blade: Elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Attenuate. Attachment:             Stalked. Margin: Shallow crenate Texture of top surface: non             pubescent. Texture of bottom surface: non pubescent. Color:             Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow green 138A Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow green 138A Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS green 137A Mature foliage under             side: Near RHS green 138A Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation             color upper side: Near RHS yellow green 145A Venation color             under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B upper side. Under             side near Yellow-Green 144C Petiole: Average Length:             Approximately 1.0 to 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.1 cm.             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—May to November.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Flowers arranged in             verticillasters on spikes.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 9 days.         -   Quantity of flowers.—About 12 to 16 buds and 8 to 10 fully             opened flowers per lateral branch, at one time; or about 50             to 60 blooming spikes per plant, on a 1 year old plant.             Mature plants, more than 2 years old can have 200 blooming             spikes.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter/width: Approximately 4 to 6 cm.             Height: Approximately 12 to 16 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Average 0.50 cm. Diameter: 0.10 cm Color:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A Orientation: nearly completely             vertical (10 degrees angle) Strength: rigid.         -   Individual flowers.—Length: Average 2.9 cm. Diameter: 1.5             cm.         -   Petals.—Petal arrangement: fused: flower-cup with 2 lips             Margin: Entire. Length: lower lip : 1.1 to 1.2 cm upper lip:             1.8 to 2.0 cm Width: : lower lip: 1.1 to 1.4 cm upper rip:             0.2 to 0.4 cm Petal quantity: 2 lips Petal apex shape:             lobate for lower lip Texture: Smooth to somewhat velvety.         -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet             N88A Lower surface: Near RHS Violet N88A. Fully opened:             Upper surface: Near RHS Violet N88A Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet N88A Fading: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 86A Lower             surface: Near RHS Violet 86A.         -   Bud.—Shape: elongated cylinder Length: 0.8 to 1.0 cm             Diameter: 0.2 to 0.3 cm Color: Near RHS Violet 83A.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Fused cylinder. Quantity per flower: 3             Length: Approximately 1.0 to 1.2 cm Width: Approximately             largest 0.3 cm and 2 smaller: 0.2 cm Apex: Acute. Margin:             entire Texture: pubescent Color: Background color near RHS             Green 138A, covered in a heavy flush of Violet 83A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 2 Filament length: Approximately 0.8 to 0.9             cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: linear Length: Approximately 0.15 cm Color:             Near RHS Violet 83B Pollen: Color: Near RHS Yellow orange             17B Quantity: Moderate.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Approximately 1.2 to 1.4 cm Style:             Length: Approximately 1.0 to 1.2 cm Color: Near RHS Violet             84D Stigma: Shape: linear Color: Near RHS Violet 86A Ovary             color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Salvia have             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures approximately between 5 to 35° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘BARSAL’ as herein illustrated and described. 